Adjustable jig



Feb. 4, 1947. H, N, RENTON 2,415,259

`ADJUS TABLE JIG ,H626 |1129 27` 26 IH-ll H rw ATTO RNEYS Feb. 4, 1947. H, N, RENTON 2,415,259

ADJ US TABLE J I G Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi? 0/ 0000000"0f0000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M50 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 0 0450 "0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ,2070310 'jodofekf? "0000000 '/000'0if fl O f c: .470 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 i 550 0 0 0 0v 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 g 0 0-0 0 E 0 0 0 0.144 0 0 0 f 'HENRY N. QENTON ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE J IG Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-'Sheet 3 i y INVENToR HENRY NREHTON ATTRNEYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIVENTOR HENRY N. RENToN ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1947. H. N. RENTON 2,415,259

ADJUSTABLE JIG Filed June 14, 1944 5 Sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR I 'HENRY N RENTOH BY y ' A'rronNEYs Patented Feb. 4, 19457 ADJUSTABLE J IG Henry N. Renton,

Akron,

Ohio, assignor to Weather-Seal, Inc., Barberton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 14, 1944, Serial No. 540,275

7 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable jigs or clamps, and more especially it relates to mitered clamps adapted to hold a plurality of Work-pieces in determinate angular position while adjacent pieces are being secured to each other.

The invention is of especial utility in the manufacture of rectangular articles, for example, window sash or screen sash. In the most modern type of storm windows, interchangeable storm sash and screen sash are receivable in a supplemental frame that is permanently mounted in the window opening of a building. In order to exclude wind and weather, the storm window sash may have tongue and groove engagement with the supplemental frame, and for this reason an extremely nice intertting of the parts is required to prevent binding, and to enable the storm sash readily to be mounted in or removed from the supplemental frame. Obviously the sash of the interchangeable screens require equally accurate construction for the same reason.

Heretofore the manufacture of sash with four mitered corners has been a relatively slow process. It required that the operator manually hold two sash elements together, after aligning them by visual observation, while a clamp was screwed u-p rmly to hold the pieces in position. The pieces were then drilled and screws inserted. This produced one corner of a sash, and the operation had to be repeated to produce the other corners of the sash. Since the four rail members of a sash require to be in the same plane, as well as positioned at exactly 90 angles at the corners, it will be apparent that inaccuracies were inevitable and frequent.

The chief objects of this invention are to produce window sash and screen sash of superior quality; to eliminate some of the manual operations in the manufacture of sash of the character mentioned; to provide ap-paratus for clamping together the four rails of a sash concurrently at the four corners of the latter; to provide apparatus of the character mentioned that is readily adjustable to accommodate sash of various sizes and proportions; and to save time and labor in the manufacture of sash and thereby to reduce the cost thereof. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved adjustable jig, and the work thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view, on a larger scale, of one corner portion of the apparatus, and work therein;

Fig. 4 is a section, on the same scale as Fig'. 3, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, on a still larger scale, showing one of the work-engaging elements of the jig;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view, on a larger scale, of the operating mechanism at the center or axis of the jig;

Fig. 8 is a section substantially on the line 8--8 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 7; A

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail plan view of the turntable of the jig showing how the same is latched in determinate angular position with relation to its baseer supporting structure; and

Fig. l0 is a side elevation of the latching means shown in Fig. 9, the turntable and base beineshown in section.

Referring to the drawings, especially Figs. 1 and 8 thereof, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises a .base or supporting structure IU having a flat to-p I I of octagonal shape, said base and top beingconstructed of wood, although they may be made of metal if desired. Located at the center or vertical axis of symmetry of the top member II is an elongate sleeve I2 that is formed at its upper end with a radial ange I3, the latter being seated and secured in a suitable counterbore in the top II and the sleeve I2 extending downwardly through a suitable axial aperture in said top. Journaled in the sleeve I2 is a vertical spindle or axle I4 that has a circular disclike hub I5 integrally formed on its upper end, said hub resting upon a thrust bearing IB posif tioned between itself and the fiange I3 of sleeve I2. Mounted upon the top side of the hub l5 and suitably secured thereto is a turntable Il that consists of a iiat metal -plate and is square in plan. The turntable is ymarginally reinforced by an angle iron I8 welded thereto on the under side thereof, and also is reinforced by a second angle iron I9 attached to the under side thereof and arranged concentrically of the axis of the turntable.

The arrangement is such that the turntable may be rotated relatively of its supporting base I0, and means is provided for securing the turntable against rotation, in any one of eight different positions, so that operations may be performed upon work carried upon the turntable. To this end each corner of the turntable is provided, on the under side thereof, with a spring pressed latch engageable with one or the other of a pair of keeper members mounted upon the margin of the top II, on two contiguous sides of the latter. As is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, each latch consists of an angular member 22 that is carried by a mounting block 23, the latter being secured to the under side of the turntable Il at a corner thereoi. The latch is slidably secured to the mounting block by a pair of cap screws 2d that extend through respective slots .in the latch, the arrangement being such as to enable movement of the latch relatively of the block and diagonally of the turntable. A torsion spring 25 carried by the turntable engages the latch 22 and urges it inwardly, toward the axis of the turntable, the angular shape of the latch enabling it readily to be grasped by the operators linger and drawn outwardly against the force of said spring. The nose of each latch 22, which is at the inner end thereof, is receivable in a notch 26 formed in the margin of a keeper member 2l.

There are two of the latter, and they are mounted on the margin of adjacent sides of the top Il. Each keeper member 2 consists of a metal strap that is bowed outwardly in its medial region so as to extend into the orbit of the nose portions of latches 22. rEhe arrangement provides eight positions of angular adjustment of the turntable il, of which one position is shown in full lines in Fig. 9 and another indicated in chain dotted lines in the same gure.

Secured upon the top of turntable ll, -at the axis thereof, is the circular plate or base member 29 of an axial, upwardly extending stud or spindle 3B, the latter being of largest diameter at its lower end, of intermediate diameter in its medial region, and of smallest diameter at its upper end portion, the latter bbeing threaded. Rotatably jcurnaled upon the spindle 3Q and resting upon the shoulder formed at the top of its region of greatest diameter is a cam structure 3l. A spacer disc 32 is superposed upon the cam structure 3i, and a diametrically arranged twohand crank 33 is superposed upon the disc 32, said crank, disc, and cam being secured together as a unit by a plurality of screws 3d, and retained upon the spindle Sil by a nut 3-5 on the threaded upper end of the latter.

In plan, the cam 3| has the shape of a fourtoothed ratchet, each of the four teeth or lobes of which has an arcuate camming face that terminates at a short, radial, non-cammi-ng face at the end thereof farthest from the axis of the cam. As is best shown in Fig. 8, the arcuate face of each lobe of the cam is formed with a downwardly extending ange 3l that is slidingly engaged in an upwardly open slot or notch 38 in an operating bar te. rhere are four operating bars 3S, and they are arranged diagonally of the square turntable il, that is, radially toward the four corners of the latter. The radial extent of each cam lobe is substantially one-half inch, so that oscillation of the cam may be utilized to elect a maximum of one-half inch of longitudinal movement in each operating bar 39. Each of the latter has the shape of standard T-bar, the'web or rib of which is uppermost, and includes the notch 3E. The inner end portions of the respective bars Se rest slidingly upon the upper face of the spindle-base 29, and are guided by respective pairs of guide rollers |10, ill that are mounted upon the upper face of the spindle-base 29, and which engage opposite lateral faces of the upstanding webs of the operating bars. The outer end of each operating bar is formed with a loop or eye si that is utilized for adjustably connecting the bar to a threaded stud i2, the latter being mounted at one corner of a square metal mounting plate t3. The latter are four in number, and they are positioned substantially coincident with the four corners of the turntable Il. Each mounting plate 43 is formed with a multiplicity oi perforations lit, Sli that are arranged in rows parallel to the sides of the plate, the perforations being exactly equidistant .from each other. The perforations il are somewhat tapered, their smaller Vends being uppermost, at the top sides of the mounting plates.

rlhe mounting plates i3 are arranged to be moved diagonally by longitudinal movement of the operating bars 39, and to this end each mountin'gplate has a key or gib fit mounted on the bottom face thereof and secured thereto by screws ill, said gib being disposed diagonally of the mounting plate, in alignment with the operating bar 39 that is employed to move the plate. The gib 'it is formed in its opposite lateral faces with respective grooves ila, Fig. 3, that extend longitudinally from end to end thereof, and engaged in each groove i8 are complementally bevelled wheels or rollers 49, le that support the gib above the surface of the turntable Il. Each groove 4S vof a gib is engaged by two wheels 1.9, the latter being disposed relatively near the opposite ends of the gib and the wheels on 'one side or the gib being disposed in opposition to the wheels on Vthe opposite side thereof. Each wheel le is journaled in one end of a lever arm 5@ that is pivotally mounted at 5i on the turntable i7. The Aother end of each lever arm 50 is engaged by an adjusting `screw 52, 'the arrangement being such that the wheels 48 may vbe forced into operative engagement with the gib. The screws 52 that engage the lever arms 50 at the outer ends of the gibs are threaded through respective supportingr plates 53 that are mounted upon the reinforced lateral margins of the turntable il. rEhe screws 52 that engage the lever arms at the inner end voi the gibs are threaded through respective blocks 54 that are aixed'to the top face of the turntable il. The gibs d@ are formed with vertically arranged perforations or apertures 55, 55, Fig. 6, which perforations Yare in registry with perforations de in the respective mounting plates '433. AThe arrangement is such that the plates it operate unhindered by accumulations or" dirt and sawdust in moving parts, it enables the plates to be positioned with micrometric nicety so that accurate work is produced, and it enables adjustment to be made to `cornpensate for normal wear.

Mounted upon the mounting plates 43 `are 'the four work-engaging units that engage the four rnitered corners of a rectangular structure, such as a sash, and hold the sash elements ixedly in proper position while they are being secured to each other. In the drawings each work-engaging unit as a whole is designated by the numeral 58, and the respective work-pieces or sash rails are designated 59.

As is best shown in Figs. l, 5, and f6, each workengag-ing unit 58 comprises a five-sided metal block 6l that is so shaped as to have three 'right angles, said block having four sides that define said right angles, and having a rif-th vside that is disposed normal to a diagonal of the block. "The bottom face of the block 6l is formed with a deep recess 52, Fig. 5, extending from Vsai'd th side of the block to the right angle opposite the same, and mounted in said recess is a iill'er block 63 that occupies about half the .recess at the end thereof that includes 'the right angle( The iller block 63 is secured in place by set screws B4.

Also mounted in recess 62, at the end thereof nearer the iifth side of the block El, is a cramping block 65. Mounted upon the iiith side of block El is a cover plate 66 that covers the open end of recess t2, and a narrow slotted spacer plate 6l, Fig. 6, is mounted in the latter between cover plate et and the adjacent end of cramping block t5. The length of said cramping block is such that it is capable of a modicum (about l@ inch) of movement longitudinally of the recess 62, from and toward filler block 63, and for so moving said cramping block an adjusting screw 68 is threaded therethrough, the nose of said screw engaging said liller block. At its opposite end the screw ES has a shank portion c that extends through spacer plate iii and cover plate E6, and has an operating knob t9 on the end thereof by means of which the screw is manipulated. Mounted upon the bottom of the block 6l, at each side or the recess Eil and partly overlying the blocks 65, therein are bottom plates such as the plate it, Fig. Ll. Secured to the top of the block 6i are two work-engaging members ll, H that are disposed exactly at right angles to each other. In transverse profile the members 'il are so shaped that they will engage the surface of the work-pieces l that rest thereon, and also will engage the lower part of the adjacent outer lateral face of said work-pieces, leaving sumcient of the latter exposed to receive the securing means, such as screws, that will hold said pieces together.

As shown herein, the four work-engaging units 58 are arranged to engage a work-structure in the shape of a square, but the apparatus is adaptable for operation upon work-structures of different rectangular shape, or on work-structures of the same shape but of different size. This feature of the apparatus is made possible by the ability of the units 5S to be mounted any place upon the respective mounting plates To this end each unit 5B is attached to a` mounting plate 43 by means of a plurality of studs or dowels lll, four dowels being employed for each unit. The dowels lffl are provided with tapered Shanks, the large ends of which are slightly smaller than the small ends of the tapered perforations lili in the mounting plates t3. The dowels 'lil are permanently secured by any suitable means in respective bores or recesses formed in the bottom of a unit 53, there being two dowels mounted in the block (il, one dowel in the ller block 63, and one dowel in the cramping block E5, the tapered shanks of the dowels projecting below the unit. The perforations ifi being slightly larger in diameter (about le inch) than the shanks of the dowels ill, enables the unit 53 easily and quickly to be mounted in position with the Shanks of the dowels received in'respective perforations lill. After the unit has been mounted as described, the operating knob 69 of screw 68 may be turned so that the latter moves cramping block 55 relatively oi' the remainder of the unit, with the result that the Shanks of dowels 'H4 are urged or cramped against the tapered walls of the perforations fili in which they are positioned, whereby the unit is retained firmly in position. The dowels le are easily released from the periorations ill of the mounting plates 43 Simply by manipulation of screw 68 and may be re-positioned in other perforations when it is desired to alter the jig to accommodate work of different size or rectangular shape,

After the jig has been set up to accommodate work-pieces of determinate size, its operation is relatively simple and rapid. At the beginning of an operative cycle the hand crank 33 is turned to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, in which position the mounting plates i3 with workengaging units 58 thereon are in their outermost positions. The four work-elements 59 are then placed in position with their end portions resting upon the members l! ofV the units 58, after which the hand crank 33 is turned to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 7. This rotates cam Si and draws the bars 3S inwardly, and with them the mounting plates t3 and units 53 on the latter. Because the work-engaging members 'H of units 58 define exact 90 degree angles, and because said units are so arranged on the plates 43 that movement of the latter moves the members il in the direction of the bisectors of their angles, it will be apparent that said members 'il engage the end portions of workelements 59 and force them into engagement with each other at the exact angle desired. While so held the mitered corners of the work elements may be drilled and secured to each other. The turntable .Il is latched in position while the work is being operated upon, but may be indexed to bring other corners of the work successively into position convenient for the operator. As sho-wn in Fig. 6, the apertures 55 in theA gibs prevent the accumulation of shavings in perforations lil underlaid by said gibs. As soon as all the corners of the work are secured together, the hand crank 33 is turned to the position shown in fulllines in Fig. 7, thus releasing the finished work which may then be removed. This completes a cycle of operation.

An important feature of the invention is that no extraneous locking means is required to prevent retraction of the work-engaging units 5B after they have been drawn into operative engagement with the work. This advantage is achieved by so shaping the lobes of the cam Si that their pitch is greatest in the respective regions thereof that are farthest from` the axis of the cam. When the cam is fully turned to tightly engage the units 58 with the work, the operating bars s@ are nearly perpendicular to the camming surfaces of the cam lobes, with the result that the forces set up do not cause any recessive or reverse turning of the cam.

The invention is simple in construction and rapid and accurate in operation. It facilitates the output of work of superior quality, and achieves the other advantages set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Modication may be resorted to without department from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a table, mounting plates positioned thereon each formed with multiple rows of perforations therethrough, angular work-en'- gaging units each comprising a plurality of downwardly extending dowels that are receivable selectively in perorations in the respective mounting plates for operatively engaging the said units with the mounting plates, and means for effecting lateral movement of the dowels of each unit relatively of each other so as to cause said dowels to bind against the sides of the perforations in which they are seated.

2. A combination as deiined in claim. l wherein the perforations in the mounting plates are tapered with their smaller ends uppermost, and the dowels are similarly tapered, their larger ends being slightly smaller 'than the smaller lends of rthe perforations.

movable elements, there being at least one dWel i `mounted in each element, and including ari-'adjusting screw Vfor moving said elementsrelatively of each other.

4.In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a table, a plurality of perforated mounting plates, means supporting said mounting plates on the table for determinate movement relatively thereof, said means comprising gibs secured'to the under side of the respective mounting plates, each gib formed with longitudinally extending grooves in its lateral faces, Wheels engaging each of "said grooves, and adjustable vsupports on the table in which said Wheels are journaled, Work-engaging units mounted on the respective mounting plates through the agency oi said perforations, 'and means connected to the plates for concurrently moving them and the gibs relatively of the table.

5. A combination as d'ened in claim 4 in which the gib-engaging Wheels are mounted in one end of respective lever arms, including adjusting screws engaging the opposite ends of said lever arms.

:56. -A combination a's-dlnedin'claim 2linw'hiclfi the fgibiegagizig fvvh'eels 'are arranged in lpairs adjacent the respective fen'ds -of the gibs, the Wheels on'one Vs'id'e of vtl'legilos being Yin opposition to vthe yWheels 'on-'the opposite side thereof.

v'1 'combination asvdefined in claim 4 1in which "the "gibsa're formed with vertically disposed apertures lthat are in `registry with a succession of `perfora'tionsin the mountingplates. l

HENRY N. RENTON.

RFRENCES CIT-ED The 'following references are Vof record in the le of this patent:

UM'I'ED STATES lPAFLENTS Topp 1 1 Jan, l, v1924 

